^In the mainstream tradition found in Homer, as supported by Attic vase paintings, Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera. However in Hesiod's Theogony 924ff, Hera gave birth to Hephaestus asexually, in order to get back at Zeus for his asexual birthing of Athena. Several late texts also attest this, e.g. Bibliotheke i. 3.5 (consciously contradicting Homer); Hyginus', Preface to Fabulae.